Back in the country for his first training session with his rebranded club, United City FC captain Stephan Schrock made a promise a few weeks before the start of the 2020 Philippines Football League season.
“It’s a new club, new format, but the winning tradition will stay the same,” declared Schrock who spent the last four months in Germany as he awaited the fate of his club, Ceres-Negros FC and the PFL.
Schrock and his UCFC teammates delivered on that vow last Friday (Nov. 6) as they claimed the crown with a game to spare following a 7-1 demolition of Stallion Laguna FC at PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
The club now owned by a group of investors handled by Dubai-based MMC Sportz kept the core of the successful Ceres Negros squad that has won the first three PFL titles. UCFC players still hold Bacolod City and Negros Occidental close to their hearts, although it remains to be seen which city the club will be based starting next year.
“We want to offer this win to the people of Bacolod for all their support over the years,” said striker Bienve Marañon. “We also want to keep the legacy of Ceres alive.”
The victory also ended a rollercoaster past few months for the club and its players from the old Ceres franchise. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, football patron Leorey Yanson gave up ownership of the club, paving the way for a take over, retaining 16 players from the team.
“The past few months have been very tough on everyone but you have to give credit to the players and the management for just being here and still keeping that winning mentality,” said Schrock.
Ott opened the scoring early with a precise finish off a Marañon pass in the 11th minute, but UCFC conceded for the first time in four matches in the competition when Stallion striker Ibrahim Ndour fired an unstoppable effort to complete a counterattack.
But order was quickly restored for UCFC with Takashi Odawara heading home from the far post.
Marañon, whose application for naturalization has been filed in Congress, now has a tournament-leading seven goals this season.
“It is good that even if we changed management we are still the best team in the Philippines and we showed it again today,” Marañon said. “Now we will have a chance in playing strong clubs from China, Japan, Korea which we all look forward to next year.”
UCFC was beaten by Kaya FC Iloilo last night (1-2) but the former Ceres team were on their way to claim the championship trophy. Kaya FC settled for second place.
“Not the finish we all wanted, but we are still champions. Congratulations Kaya FC on finishing the PFL 2020 season on a high,” the team posted on its social media account.
Kaya was tipped to challenge UCFC for the title but a surprise draw with unheralded Mendiola FC put its bid in peril.
“When we learned about the Kaya result, we wanted to seal it (win against Stallion),” said UCFC coach Francis Muescan. “Our main objective was to do everything we can to win this game.”
The win also gave UCFC an outright spot in the AFC Champions League. Since 2018, the club had been knocking on the door in the main draw only to fall short at the final qualifying stage twice. – Cedelf P. Tupas
